Photographic apparatus



June 27, 1967 J, B. MURPHY 3,327,599

PHOTOGRAPHI C APPARATUS Filed April 21, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORATTORNEYS June 27, 1967 J. B. MURPHY 3,327,599

PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Filed April 21, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYSJune 27, 1967 J. MURPHY PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Filed April 21, 1965 4Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS United States Patent,

3,327,599 PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS John E. Murphy, West Roxbury, Mass,assignor to Polaroid Corporation, Cambridge, Mass, a corporation ofDelaware Filed Apr. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 449,796

14 Claims. (Cl. 95-43) This invention relates to photographic apparatussuch as camera for processing photographic sheet material and, moreparticularly, to apparatus for applying compressive pressure to a pairof superposed sheets to distribute a processing liquid between thesheets.

The present invention is concerned with the construction of so-calledself-developing cameras generally of 'the same type as sold by PolaroidCorporation, designated Model 100* and Model 101, and shown anddescribed together with film assemblages useful therein, for example, inU.S. Patents Nos. 3,161,122, 3,161,516, 3,165,- 039 and 3,165,040.Cameras of this type generally include a body or housing for holding afilm pack containing a plurality of film units adapted to besuccessively exposed and then processed during withdrawal from thecamera through a withdrawal opening therein. Processing is accomplishedby drawing each film unit, including a pair of superposed sheets, fromthe pack between a pair of juxtaposed pressure-applying members, usuallyrolls, located within the camera adjacent the withdrawal opening inorder to distribute a processing liquid between the superposed sheets.The camera housing includes two sections movable relative to one anotherto permit loading of a film pack into the housing and both of thepressureapplying members (rolls) may be mounted in juxtaposition on oneof the housing sections closely adjacent the walls thereof including thewalls in which the withdrawal opening is formed.

Cameras of this type heretofore have usually included a housing formedof (or at least including a frame formed of) a sturdy, structurallystrong material, specifically metal, fabricated by casting, forging orthe like, or by pressing sheet metal into the desired shape. This sturdyhousing or frame has been required to accurately locate and support thevarious components of the camera, particularly the pressure-applying andfilm guidance systems, in proper operative relationship, as well as toabsorb the stresses exerted by these components. Metal housings and/orframes of the type employed heretofore are relatively complex andexpensive to fabricate and assemble, particularly as compared to camerahousings formed of organic plastics, for example, by conventionalinjection molding methods.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved camera structure ofthe type described including a novel construction and mounting of thepressure-applying rolls and means for biasing the rolls toward oneanother enabling the camera to be fabricated easily and inexpensively oforganic plastic materials.

The apparatus (camera) of the invention includes a pair ofpressure-applying members in the form of juxtaposed rolls mounted withtheir axes substantially in a plane biased toward one another and, intheir operative position, located closely adjacent a wall (or in acorner) of the camera housing near a narrow opening through which thefilm units are withdrawn from the camera. The rolls are employed todistribute a viscous processing liquid between a pair of sheets of eachfilm unit and, because of the risk that the liquid may escape andcollect on the rolls, provision should be made for moving the rolls toan inoperative position to permit them to be cleaned. Of course, thenecessity for providing for cleaning of the rolls tends to furthercomplicate and increase the expense of the structure required to mountand bias the rolls toward one another.

Other objects of the invention are: to provide novel and improved meansfor mounting a pair of pressure-applying rolls in juxtaposition withtheir axes in a plane adjacent a wall having a withdrawal openingtherein and biasing the rolls toward one another; and to providemounting means as described which permit the rolls easily andconveniently to be moved away from the wall and apart from one anotherto an inoperative position to permit cleaning and to be returned totheir operative position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a camera of theforegoing type which is dependable in its operation yet is characterizedby a simple and inexpensive construction comprising a minimum of easilyfabricated and assembled components.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in partappear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the apparatus possessing theconstruction, combination of elements and arrangement-of parts which areexemplified in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope of theapplication of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,reference should be had to the following' detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view, partially in section, showingphotographic apparatus in the form of a camera embodying the invention,the section being taken sub stantially midway between the sides of thecamera;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the camera ofFIGURE 1 illustrating the operation of the camera;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the camera of FIGURE 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the portion of the camerashown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along theline 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating components of the camerain another position thereof;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along theline 77 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIGS. 6 and 3 illustrating components of thecamera in still another position thereof;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along theline 99 of FIG. 8; and

. FIG. 10 is an elevational view illustrating the operation of acomponent of the camera.

Photographic apparatus in the form of a camera embodying the inventionis shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 together with a film pack of the type adaptedto be employed therein. The film pack, generally'designated 10, is shownfor purposes of description as containing a single film unit 12 with thethicknesses of some of the sheet materials exaggerated for purposes ofclarity of illustration. Film pack 10 comprises a generallyparallelepiped shaped container or box including a rear wall 14, aforward wall 16 having a rectangular exposure aperture 18 formedtherein, an end wall 20 (shown in the drawings at the lower end of thefilm pack) formed with a withdrawal aperture 22; and a pressure plate 24disposed between the forward and rear walls across exposure aperture 18for supporting photosensitive sheet materials against the forward wallacross the exposure aperture in position for exposure.

Film unit 12 comprises a photosensitive sheet 26 disposedbetween'forward wall 16 and pressure plate 24 and including a trailingedge section 28 attached to the end of pressure plate 24 nearest endwall 20. Photosensitive sheet 26 is coupled at its leading edge to aleader sheet 30 which extends around a curved end section 32 of pressureplate 24 behind the pressure plate between the latter and rear wall 14toward withdrawal aperture 22. A rupturable container 34 of processingliquid is mounted on leader sheet 30 in the vicinity of the leading edgeof the photosensitive sheet in position to dispense its liquid contentsfor distribution in contact with the photosensitive sheet when subjectedto compressive pressure. The film unit includes a second orimage-receiving sheet 36 substantially coextensive with thephotosensitive sheet, mounted on a second leader sheet 38. Second leadersheet 38 is substantially longer than the image-receiving sheet andincludes a trailing end section 40 extending beyond the trailing edge ofthe image-receiving sheet, an intermediate section 42 including arectangular opening 44 secured to the margins of the image-receivingsheet around the margins of opening 44, and a leading end section 46secured to leader sheet 30 near the leading end thereof. The leadersheets and photosensitive and imagereceiving sheets are so constructedand coupled with one another as to position the photosensitive sheet insuperposed registered relation with the image-receiving sheet with theintermediate section of the second leader sheet located between thephotosensitive and image-receiving sheets, when leader sheet 30 is drawntoward and through withdrawal aperture 22 of the film pack container.Although only one film unit 12 is shown within the film pack, the filmpack will normally contain a plurality of film units, e.g., eight, allsimilarly constructed and arranged with the photosensitive sheets 26disposed in stacked relation between the pressure plate and the forwardwall of the film pack container.

As a means for withdrawing each film unit from the pack and from thecamera, there is provided a narrow leader 48 releasably attached at oneend to leader sheet 30 between the leading end thereof and the trailingedge of the photosensitive sheet and extending through withdrawalaperture 22 of the film pack. The camera is of the type including apassage through which leader 48 extends so that it may be grasped andpulled to one side of a pair of pressure-applying members within thecamera for advancing the leading end portion of leader 30 and leadingend section 46 of second leader sheet 38 between the pressure-applyingmembers and from the camera through a withdrawal opening thereinsufficiently to perrnit the leading end portion of leader sheet 30 to beengaged (manually) for withdrawing the film unit from the camera betweenthe pressure-applying members. The initial withdrawal movement of leader48 of a film unit causes trailing edge section 28 of photosensitivesheet 26 to become detached from pressure plate 24 and move aroundcurved end section 32 behind the pressure plate into superposition withimage-receiving sheet 36. During this movement of the photosensitivesheet of a film unit, the photosensitive sheets of any other film unitswithin the pack remain stationary by virtue of their attachment to thepressure plate, and the image-receiving sheet of the film unit (beingwithdrawn) is retained against substantial movement by means within thecamera which will be described more fully hereinafter. The leading endportion of leader sheet 30 and leading end section 46 of second leadersheet 38 are both tapered toward their leading ends to promote rollingof leading end section 46 upon itself during withdrawal; and leader 48is substantially narrower than the other sheets of the film unit and isattached (e.g., by an adhesive) to leader sheet 30 substantially midwaybetween the sides thereof in such a manner as to provide a strong,secure connection when leaders 30 and 48 are advanced in the samedirection, and a weak connection which becomes readily detached whenleaders 30 and 48 are advanced along divergent paths.

The invention is incorporated in a camera, generally designated 50,having a body or housing including a forward section 51 comprising aforward wall 52 with a recessed section formed with an exposure aperture54, side walls and, at one end, an end wall and a relatively short rearwall 56. The camera body, particularly the forward and rear walls aresuitably formed so as to locate film pack 10 in proper position forexposure with exposure aperture 18 in the forward wall of the film packaligned with exposure aperture 54 in forward wall 52 of the camera body.To completely enclose the film pack and the operative components of thecamera while providing for loading of a film pack into the camera, thecamera housing includes a rear section 58 comprising a rear wall 60,side walls 62 and 64 and an end wall 66, pivotally mounted on theforward section of the camera body by a hinge 68 secured to rear walls56 and 60. A latch mechanism 70 is mounted on forward housing section 51for releasably retaining the two camera housing sections in the closedor operative position shown in FIGURE 1 and permits the rear section tobe pivoted to an open position to permit loading of a film pack into thecamera housing. A spring 72 is provided on the inside of rear wall 60for engaging the film pack and retaining it against forward wall 52 ofthe camera body.

Forward and rear sections 51 and 58 of the camera housing are designedto be formed of organic plastic materials by conventional massproduction manufacturing methods such as, for example, injectionmolding. This is made possible by a construction such that thedimensions of the camera body are not critical and most of the stressesexerted by components of the camera mechanism are absorbed by thecomponents themselves or by relatively strong portions of a singlesection of the camera body especially constructed for this purpose.

The camera, as shown in FIGURE 1, includes the conventional componentsof a camera including a lens and shutter assembly 74, a door 76- onwhich is mounted an erecting system, the door in turn pivotally mountedon the forward section of the camera body, and a bellows 78 connectingthe lens and shutter assembly with forward wall 52 of the camera body.In the preferred form, the bellows and erecting system are capable ofbeing folded to locate the lens and shutter assembly within the recessdefined by forward wall 52 with door 76 covering the recess to provide acompact camera construction.

Processing of the exposed photosensitive sheet 26 of a film unit isaccomplished by advancing the photosensitive and second sheets of thefilm unit in superposition between a pair of juxtaposedpressure-applying members which compress container 34 to dispense itsliquid contents for distribution between the superposed photosensitiveand image-receiving sheets. The juxtaposed pressureapplying memberspreferably take the form of cylindrical rolls 80 and 82 mounted injuxtaposition with their axes substantially in a plane perpendicular tothe plane of movement of the sheets within the camera housing adjacentend wall 66. The end wall is provided with a narrow withdrawal openingor passage 84 aligned with the bite of the rolls through which a filmunit may be advanced from the camera housing between rolls 80 and 82.Passage 84 is defined by elongated forward and rear lateral surfacesdesignated, respectively, 86 and 88, inclined outwardly and rearwardlyfor reasons which will appear more fully hereinafter.

Rear body section 58 includes a relatively short forward wall 90 whichcooperates with forward wall 52 to define a withdrawal opening 92 forleaders 48. The film pack is initially provided with a cover sheet (notshown) for closing exposure aperture 18 and this cover sheet includes aleader coupled with leader 48 (of the first film unit) which ispreferably folded upon itself so as not to extend from the film pack tothe same extent as the leader of the cover sheet and is, in turn,secured to the folded leader 48 of the next succeeding film unit. Byvirtue of this arrangement, when the film pack is loaded into the camerain the position shown in FIGURE 1 and the rear body section is pivotedinto closed position, preferably only the first leader, that is, theleader attached to the cover sheet, extends from the camera throughwithdrawal opening 92 so that the first leader may be grasped forwithdrawing the cover sheet through opening 92 and, at the same time,unfolding and Withdrawing the leading end portion of leader 48 of thefirst film unit so that the latter may be grasped manually. To process a=film unit, leader 48 is grasped and withdrawn from the camera throughopening 92 to advance the leading end portion of leader 30 and theleading end section 46 of second leader 38 between rolls 80 and 82through passage 84 substantially to the position shown in FIG. 2, atwhich point leader 43 separates from the film unit.

Means are provided for guiding leader 30 and leading end section 46between the pressure-applying rolls and efiecting separation of leader48. In the form shown, these means include a stripper bar 94, which maybe formed as an integral part of the forward body section 51, extendingfrom forward wall 52 rearwardly within the camera body adjacent end wall20 of the film pack. Stripper bar 94 includes a rear surface locatedapproximately in the plane of movement of film units from within thefilm pack between the pressure-applying rolls and is formed with achannel 96 having a width narrower than the widths of leader sheets 30and 38, but slightly wider than leader 48, so that the latter will passthrough the channel and withdrawal opening 92, while the leader sheetsare unable to enter the channel and are guided by the stripper barbetween the pressure-applying rolls.

The camera includes a closure for withdrawal opening 84 for preventingthe admission of light and dust through the opening into the camerahousing while permitting advancement of a leader through the openingfrom the housing. This closure, in the form shown, is quite simple inconstruction and is designed to be opened automatically by engagement ofthe leading edge of leader sheet 30, sufliciently to allow a film unitto be withdrawn through the opening while engaging the film unit in sucha way as to admit little or no light through the opening duringwithdrawal movement of a film unit. The closure, designated 98,comprises a single element preferably formed of a resilient sheetmaterial, such as metal or organic plastics, and includes an elongatedclosure section 100 having a generally obtuse V-shaped cross section andan elongated resilient support section 102 coupled intermediate its endsto the mid portion of the closure section by a connecting section 164.Support section 102 includes L-shaped brackets 106 at its ends at whichthe support section is secured to forward wall 90 adjacent side walls 62and 64 by such means as screws 108. Closure 98 is mounted so thatclosure section 100 extends rearwardly adjacent the inner surface of endwall 66 toward opening 84 and into the opening with the edge portion ofclosure section 100 disposed substantially in face-to-face relation withrear lateral surface 88 defining the rear side of the opening.

It will be apparent (see FIGURE 1) that this closed position the closureeffectively prevents the admission of light directly into the camerahousing (in the direction of film movement) while also closing theopening against dust and dirt. The rear edge portion of closure section100 is inclined with respect to the plane of movement of leader 30between the pressure-applying rolls and is located so that the leadingedge of the leader will engage this inclined edge portion of the closuresection to deflect the closure section forwardly against the bias ofsupport section 102 which functions as a weak spring for retaining theclosure section in closed position. During advancement of leader 30through withdrawal opening 84, closure section 100 is displaced to theposition shown, for example, in FIG. 2, at which it bears against theforward surface of the leader and, during withdrawal of the film unit,against the outer surface of the photosensitive sheet. The rear surfaceof leading end section 46 and the outer surface of the image-receivingsheet will bear against an edge of rear lateral surface 88 duringwithdrawal through the opening so that little or no light will beadmitted through the opening.

The camera includes means for mounting rolls and 82 for rotation injuxtaposition with their axes substantially in a plane perpendicular tothe plane of movement of the film units from the pack through opening84; biasing the rolls toward one another so as to apply compressivepressure to sheet materials moved between the rolls; and permittingmovement of the rolls from their operative position into an inoperativeposition at which the rolls are spaced away from end wall 66 and areseparated from one another so that they can be cleaned. These mountingmeans are characterized by a simple and inexpensive construction thatfacilitates the easy movement of the rolls 1 between their operative andinoperative positions and, in the form shown, comprise portions of sidewalls 6-2 and 64 of the camera housing, the rolls themselves and meansincluding a spring for biasing the rolls toward one another. Rolls 80and 82 comprise substantially cylindrical midportions, designated and112, respectively, and roll 80 is provided with raised collars 114 onthe ends of midportion 110 for predeterminedly spacing the mid-portionsof the rolls apart from one another to control distribution of theprocessing liquid and allow passage of a leader between the rolls. Roll80 includesstub shafts 116 on its ends and roll 82 includes stub stafts118 on its ends, the stub shafts being rotatably engaged in cylindricalbushings 120 formed of a material having a relatively low coefiicient offriction. Each of side walls 62 and 64 is provided with a first channelor recess 122 extending from rear wall 60 forwardly and substantiallyperpendicular to the plane of movement of the film units between therolls, and having a depth approximately equal to the axial length of oneof bushings 120 and a second channel or recess 124 extending from rearwall 60 rearwardly and at an angle with respect to the first channel andintersecting the first recess near the rear end thereof. The secondrecess may be curved slightly and the two recesses converge to formsubstantially a V, leaving a generally wedge-shaped element 126 betweenthem and spaced from rear wall 69 by a gap approximately equal in widthto the diameter of a bushing 120.

In the operative position of the pressure-applying rolls shown in FIGS.3 and 5, bushings 120 on stub shafts 116 and 118 are engaged in recesses122 with the bushings 120 engaged around stub shafts 116 each engaged atthe forward end of a recess 122 at the intersection of the latter and arecess 124, and each of bushings 120 engaged around stub shafts 118engaged between an element 126 and the opposite side of recess 122. Therolls are-retained in -'this operative position and roll 82 is biasedtoward roll 80 by resilient means in the form of a torsion spring 128.Spring 128'is formed of a single length of wire and includes a generallytriangular medial section 130; torsion sections 132 extending linearlyin opposite directions from medial section 138; and a pair of legs 134extending substantially at right angles and parallel with one anotherfrom the ends of torsion sections 132. The major portions of legs-134extend substantially in a plane disposed at an angle with respect to theplane of medial section 130, and the latter and torsion sections 132 aremountedsubstantially in.a plane on a support plate 136 by tabs 138turned up from the support plate into engagement with medial section 130and torsion sections 132 so as to retain the torsion and medial sectionssubstantially in a plane while permitting torsional strains to beapplied to the torsion sections. A pair of tabs 140 are also turned upfrom plate 136 for engaging legs 134 and providing limit stops formovement of the legs under the bias of torsion sections 132. Supportplate 136 is mounted in face-to-face relation with rear wall 60 and isprovided with projections 142 at its lateral edges which are .slidablyengaged in channels 144 in side walls 62 and 64. Channels'146 areprovided in side walls 62 and 64 for sli-dably receiving the ends oftabs 140 so that support plate 136 and torsion spring 128 mountedthereon are movable in a plane parallel with the inner surface of rearwall 60 and generally parallel with the plane of movement of the filmunits toward and away from end wall 66.

Each of legs 134 includes an end section 148 bent rearwardly and havinga small recess or notch 150 in its forward surface near the apex of thebend for engaging a bushing 120 engaged around a stub shaft 118. Notches150 and bushings 120 cooperate very much as a detent for retaining thetorsion spring in engagement with the bushings and in the operativeposition shown in FIGS. 3 and 5; and the forward ends of recesses 122are extended slightly and shaped to conform to bushings 120 on stubshafts 116 to retain the last-mentioned bushings against movement whenroller 82 is biased toward roll 80.

It will be apparent that in the operative position of the rolls, bothrolls are located closely adjacent end wall 66 with roll 80 located inthe corner formed by forward wall 90 and end wall 66 and roll 82 locatedin the corner defined by end wall 66 and rear wall 60. In this position,access to the rolls for the purpose of cleaning is very limited and tofacilitate cleaning of the rolls, provision is made for separating therolls and moving at least roll 80 away from end wall 66. This isaccomplished by sliding support plate 136 and the torsion spring mountedthereon away from end wall 66 so as to disengage end sections 148 of thetorsion spring from bushings 120 in which stub shafts 118 of roll 82 arejournalled. This permits bushings 120 engaged around stub shafts 118 onroll 80 to be slid within recesses 124 rearwardly and away from end wall66 to the open or inoperative position shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, in whichstub shafts 116 and 118 are located to opposite sides of wedge-shapedelements 126. Means are provided for retaining the rolls and bushingstogether and within the camera in the inoperative position thereof, andthese means include connecting elements 152 in the form of thin plateseach having a hole 154 engaged around one of stub shafts 118 and anelongated slot 156 engaged around a stub shaft 116. Connecting elements152 are engaged between the ends of the medial sections of the rolls andthe bushings and permit roll 80 to be moved with respect to roll 82 in aplane common to the axes of the two rolls and to be pivoted with respectto roll 82 about the axis thereof. Small projecting pins or studs 158are mounted on side walls 62 and 64 within recesses 122 for limiting theforward movement of stub shafts 118 within recesses 122, whereas themovement of stub shafts 116 and roll 80, of which they are a part, intoopen position, is limited by slots 156 and wedge-shaped elements 126.

The camera includes means for automatically moving the pressure-applyingrolls from the inoperative position shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, to theoperative position shown in FIGS. 3 and 5; and for cooperating with thepressureapplying rolls and the film pack to releasably restrain theimage-receiving sheet of a film unit against movement between thepressure-applying rolls during movement of the photosensitive sheet ofthe film unit into registration with the image-receiving sheet andengage, substantially without deforming, the marginal portions of thefilm unit to prevent escape of the processing liquid between the lateraledges of the film unit during movement between the pressure-applyingmembers and distribution of the processing liquid thereby. These meansand the operation thereof are illustrated in FIGS. 4, 8, 9 and 10 andcomprise a guide member 160 mounted on support plate 136 and havinglateral support surfaces 162 positioned for engaging the rear surface ofimage-receiving sheet 36 of a film unit between the pack and thepressure-applying rolls and supporting the film unit for movementsubstantially in a plane from the film pack between thepressure-applying rolls. Mounted on the side of guide member 160 betweenthe latter and the pressure-applying rolls are a pair of generallyU-shaped control members 164, each having a first arm 166 mounted onguide member at one end near the medial portion of the support memberand extending outwardly towards the sides of the camera housing, aforwardly extending connecting arm 168 and inwardly extending engagementarms having a surface facing in a direction opposite to the direction ofmovement of the film units between the pressure-applying rolls and beingdisposed in face-to-face contact with the surface of guide member 160facing in the direction of movement of the film units. Control members164 are formed as an integral part of guide member 160, preferably of anorganic plastic material such as formaldehyde derived polyacetal sold byCelanese Polymer Co. under thetrade name Celcon, which is resilient andresists taking a set when deformed for extended periods of time. Theengagement arm 170 of each control member 164 includes a surface facingrearwardly and joining the aforementioned surface facing in a directionopposite to the direction of film movement, at an edge designated 172extending from a position outside of the marginal edges of the filmunits and rearwardly of the plane of movement of a film unit supportedon support surfaces 162 inwardly toward the center of the film unit andforwardly to the opposite side of the plane of movement of the filmunit, so as to cooperate with a support surface 162 of guide member 160to function very much in the nature of scissors to compress, withoutdeforming, the lateral marginal portions of a film unit during movementof the film unit in the aforementioned plane between the guide memberand engagement arms 170 and between the pressure-applying rolls as shownin FIG. 10. 7

Control members 164, in the operative position of the pressure-applyingrolls and guide member, are disposed very close to or against thepressure-applying rolls with edges 172 of engagement arms 170intersecting the plane of support surfaces 162 inwardly of the lateraledges of the photosensitive and image-receiving sheets of a film unit.By virtue of this construction, tapered leaders 30 and 46 are able topass between engagement arms 170, whereas the leading end ofimage-receiving sheet 36, if moved forward due to frictional engagementwith the leaders and the photosensitive sheet, will be engaged by arms170 and restrained thereby against movement until tension is applied tothe photosensitive and image-receiving sheets by the tapered leaders,deforming control members 164 suificiently to allow the photosensitiveand imagereceiving sheets to pass between the engagement arms andsupport surfaces of guide member 160. During moving of a film unitbetween engagement arms 170 and support surfaces 162, the film unit issupported by the surfaces substantially in a plane while the engagementarms compress the lateral marginal portions of the film unit against thesupport surfaces substantially without deforming the sheets and therebyprevent escape of the processing liquid from between the edges of thesheets as the liquid is being distributed between the sheets by thepressure-applying rolls. It is important that compressive pressure beapplied as a shearing force to the margins of the sheets withoutdeforming the sheets because deformation of the sheets out of theirplane of movement has been found to be a contributing cause of improper,uneven or incomplete liquid distribution.

Control members 164, in addition to releasably restraining theimage-receiving sheet against movement and preventing escape of theprocessing liquid at the margins of the sheets, also function to helpcontrol the direction of withdrawal movement of the film unit betweenthe pressure-applying rolls and thereby prevent mistracking of the filmunit. In this connection, it will be noted from FIG. 10 that edge 172 ofone engagement arm 170 (on the right) intersects support surface 162further from the center of the path of movement of the film units thanthe point (on the left) at which the edge 172 of the other engagementarm 170 intersects support surface 162. It has been found that thetendency to withdraw a film unit in an improper direction, that is,other than perpendicular to the plane of the axes of thepressure-applying rolls, is usually in one direction, and it is toaccount for this predominating mistrackin g tendency that the controlmembers are provided with this asymmetric construction. The point ofintersection of edge 172 and support surface 162 closest the center ofpath of movement of the film unit is provided on that side of the cameratowards which experience has shown the strongest tendency to pull thefilm unit.

In order to automatically move the pressure-applying rolls from theirinoperative position shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, to their operative positionshown in FIGS. 3 and 5, support plate 136 and guide member 160 mountedthereon are simply moved toward the spread rolls and end Wall 66. Duringthe initial portion of this movement, end sections 148 of torsion spring128 engage bushings 120 on stub shafts 116 and act as cams to partiallypivot roll 80 from its inoperative position toward its operativeposition as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, thereby enabling control members 164to engage and move roll 80 into its operative position. During movementof the support plate and torsion spring from its inoperative tooperative position, end sections 148 of the torsion spring are engagedand deflected rearwardly by wedge-shaped elements 126 so as to pass tothe :rear of the wedge-shaped elements into engagement with bushings 120on stub shafts 118 of roll 82. Thus, it will beseen that movement of therolls into operative position is accomplished by the cooperation of boththe torsion spring and control members 164, with the torsion springinitiating the movement of roll 80, the control members completing themovement of roll 80 into operative position and the torsion springthereafter biasing roll 82 toward roll 80 and retaining the rolls inoperative position. A recess 174 is provided in guide member 160 tofacilitate engagement of the guide-member for sliding it from itsoperative to its inoperative position and returning it to its operativeposition.

It will be apparent that the construction of the camera housing of theinvention, particularly the rear section thereof, is ideally designed tobe fabricated of inexpensive materials such as organic plastics by massproduction methods such as injection molding, because the stressesexerted by the spring on the pressure-applying rolls are entirelyabsorbed by the rear section of the housing, particularly portions ofthe rear and side walls thereof. Both pressure-applying rolls aremounted on a single housing section and are positioned by two recessesin side walls of the rear housing section so that accurate location ofthe pressure-applying rolls with respect to one another in achieved witha simple and inexpensive construction. This construction alsofacilitates cleaning of the rolls by providing for partial withdrawaland separation of the rolls merely by engaging and sliding an element(the support plate and guide member) through a short distance relativeto the rolls. Returning the rolls to their operative position andbiasing them toward one another is also an easy matter and involves onlyengaging and sliding the support plate and guide member toward the rollsto their original position.

Since certain changes may be made in the above apparatus withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention herein involved, it isintended that all matter contained in the above description or shown inthe accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and notin a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In photographic apparatus comprising a housing including an openingthrough which photographic film is withdrawn and a pair of elongatedjuxtaposed pressureapplying members mounted within said housing adjacentsaid opening for applying compressive pressure to said film duringmovement thereof between said members from said housing through saidopening, means for mounting said pressure-applying member injuxtaposition adjacent said opening and biasing said members toward oneanother, the last-mentioned means comprising, in combination:

projections extending longitudinally from the ends of each of saidmembers; said housing including opposed walls each having a first recesstherein extending in a direction generally perpendicular to thedirection of movement of said film between said members through saidopening and a second recess disposed at an angle to said first recessand intersecting said first recess at one end thereof to formsubstantially a V; said projections being slidably engaged in saidrecesses for mounting said members for movement between an operativeposition in which said projections are engaged within said first recesswith said projection f on each end of one of said members engaged atsaid one end of said first recess, and an inoperative position at whichsaid members are separated and said projections on said one member aredisposed in said second recess at locations therein spaced from saidfirst recess; and resilient means for engaging said projections on saidother member to bias said other member toward said one member when saidmembers are in said operative position. 2. The photographic apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein said pressure-applying members are in the form of rolls,said projections comprising shafts extending axially from the ends ofsaid rolls; and said projections include bushings slidably engaged insaid recesses and said shafts are engaged for rotation in said bushings.

3. Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 1 including retainingmeans engaged with said projections for coupling said members andpermitting limited linear movement of said *members toward and away fromone another and arcuate movement of said one member relative to saidother member about said projections on said other member.

4. Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 1 including means mountingsaid resilient means for movement into and from engagement with saidprojections on said other member.

5. In photographic apparatus comprising a housing including an openingthrough which photographic film is withdrawn, and a pair of juxtaposedpressure-applying members mounted within said housing adjacent saidopening for applying compressive pressure to said film during movementthereof between said members from said housing through said opening,means for mounting said pressure-applying members in juxtapositionadjacent said opening and biasing said members toward one another, thelast-mentioned means comprising, in combination:

projections extending longitudinally from the ends of each of saidmembers; said housing including opposed walls each having a first recesstherein extending in a direction generally perpendicular to thedirection of movement of said film between said members through saidopening and a second recess disposed at an angle to said first recessand intersecting said first recess at one end thereof to formsubstantially a V;

said projections being slidably engaged in said recesses for mountingsaid members for movement between an operative position in which saidprojections are engaged within said first recess with said projection oneach end of one of said members engaged at said one end of said firstrecess, and an inoperative position at which said members are separatedand said projections on said one member are disposed in said secondrecesses at locations therein spaced from said first recess;

support means mounted on said housing; and

:1 1 7 spring means mounted on said support meansi'ncluding sections forengaging said projections on said other member for biasing said othermember lengthwise of said first recesses toward said one member intooperative position; said support means being mounted on said housing formovement from an operative position in a direction generally opposite tothe direction of movement of said filmbetween said members through saidopening to an inoperative position for-disengaging said spring meansfrom said projections to permit said members tomove into saidinoperative position thereof.

6. Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 5 in which saidpressure-applying members are in the form of rolls and said projectionscomprise shafts extending axially from the ends of said rolls.

7. Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said projectionsinclude bushings slidably engaged in said recesses and said shafts areengaged for rotation in said bushings.

8. Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 5 including retainingmeans engagedwith said projections for couplingsaid members andpermitting limited linear movement of said members toward and away fromone another and arcuate movement of said one member relative to theother of said members about saidprojections on said other member.

9. Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said retainingmeans include a retaining element located at each end of said members,each of said projections on said one member is engaged for limitedlinear movement in an opening in one. of said elements and. each of saidprojections on said other member is engaged for rotation in anotheropening in one of said elements.

10. Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein each of saidfirst recesses is provided with a portion at said one end thereof forengaging and con-.

straining said projection on said one'me-mber against movement insubstantially any direction except toward the other of said members. i

'11. Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 5 to urge said onemember into said operative position thereof. a I V 13. Photographicapparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said sections of said springmeans include cam surfaces for engaging and coacting with saidprojections on said one member for displacing said one memberfrom saidinoperative position thereof partially into said operative positionthereof during an initial portion of movement of said support means fromsaidinoperative.

to said operative position thereof.

'.14..Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said supportmeans include means for engaging and moving said one member into saidoperative position thereof during an intermediate portion of saidmovement of said support means into said operative position thereof; andsaid spring means are so constructed and mounted on said support meansas to engage said pro jections on the other of said members and biassaid other member toward said one member during the terminal portion ofsaid movement of said support member,

into said operative position thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS JOHN M. HORANyPi'imary Examiner.

9/1966 Fernald .a 95-43-

1. IN PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS COMPRISING A HOUSING INCLUDING AN OPENINGTHROUGH WHICH PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM IS WITHDRAWN AND A PAIR OF ELONGATEDJUXTAPOSED PRESSUREAPPLYING MEMBERS MOUNTED WITHIN SAID HOUSING ADJACENTSAID OPENING FOR APPLYING COMPRESSIVE PRESSURE TO SAID FILM DURINGMOVEMENT THEREOF BETWEEN SAID MEMBERS FROM SAID HOUSING THROUGH SAIDOPENING, MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID PRESSURE-APPLYING MEMBER INJUXTAPOSITION ADJACENT SAID OPENING AND BIASING SAID MEMBERS TOWARD ONEANOTHER, THE LAST-MENTIONED MEANS COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION:PROJECTIONS EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY FROM THE ENDS OF EACH OF SAIDMEMBERS; SAID HOUSING INCLUDING OPPOSED WALLS EACH HAVING A FIRST RECESSTHEREIN EXTENDING IN A DIRECTION GENERALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THEDIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID FILM BETWEEN SAID MEMBERS THROUGH SAIDOPENING AND A SECOND RECESS DISPOSED AT AN ANGLE TO SAID FIRST RECESSAND INTERSECTING SAID FIRST RECESS AT ONE END THEREOF TO FORMSUBSTANTIALLY A V;